Awkward!

It's been forever since my last post. If you were able to go through my saved drafts, you would see several long-winded explanations about how busy I've been and how difficult it is to write out of my mother-in-law's house, or sew out of my mom's house. But, those will have to wait for later.

I wanted to share with you a funny (now) and awkward (then) story of something that happened to me recently.

I was on my way to dinner with some friends when a photo text arrives of a mutual friend's baby.  Friend #1 turns to me and says "I really don't like this outfit" and hands me the phone to see the photo.  The baby in the picture was wearing an AquaSeventy6 necktie onesie!  I smiled and told her that I had made that outfit as a gift from my (very popular) line of Little Man Layette items.

Of course, she was embarrassed, and explained that she just didn't like the fad of the neckties. "It's ok!" I told her. "A lot of people do!" I'm not sure which one of us felt more uncomfortable that evening! Yikes! ;)

All is well, though, and I leave you with some photos of my favorite little men!

Client Photos

I just love when my clients send me photos rocking their AquaSeventy6 goodies!   It makes me feel all loved and tingly.  ;)

Here are a few of my favorite client photos...

For more client pics, visit my Facebook page!

Third Annual Shop and Sip Holiday Trunk Show

Hi friends!  Remember me?  ;) 

I'm sorry I've been missing in action.  Moving is tough!  So is living with relatives!  I won't even get into my daily routine, because honestly, it's late and I am tired enough already!

I hope you all have had an amazing new year so far!  I'm planning to rock the heck out of 2013!  Who's with me??

I know this is a little late, but I wanted to share some photos from the 2012 Shop and Sip Holiday Trunk Show.  This is the third year I have co-hosted this totally fab handmade shopping event.  My homie (and then partner-in-crime) Autumn and I hosted the first ever Shop and Sip in 2010 when AquaSeventy6 was mostly a dream.  In 2011, my friend and former neighbor Marcy and I co-hosted the second Shop and Sip.  This year, Shop and Sip had four lovely co-hosts: Marcy of Kaiya Designs, Kara of Simply Vintage Candles, Jasmine of R & E Avenue and, of course, yours truly.

I have to apologize in advance for the quality of these photos.  One day we will splurge on a professional photographer, but for now, my handy-dandy iPhone will have to suffice!  :)

Here's my table.  Do you remember this Rag Ribbon Table Skirt?

I made over 115 items!

I spy some Elephant Karavan Pillows!

My Mustachio Coin Purses sold out!

Fabric Button Jewelry is always a big hit!

I only made three of these Christmas trees, and one lovely client bought them all!

Loved meeting all of these beautiful shoppers!

What I loved most about this show is that it was also a toy drive for Toys for Tots!

Here we are surrounded by all of the wonderful toy donations!  AH-MAH-ZING!

Have you attended any of our Holiday Shop and Sips?  Tell me in the comments!  xx

Home Sweet Home{town}

Oh, how I've missed you my little blog!  I've been missing a lot of things.  In fact, that pretty much sums up where I've been and what you are about to read.

As many of you know, my hubby, our kids and I moved from Florida to Virginia two summers ago. As I've said in the past, the move was a challenge for me, but also a great adventure.  You see, other than the one month I spent in NYC for business, I'd never lived away from my hometown nor my parents.  Not in college, not as a child, NEVER.

The opportunity for the move arose, and we jumped at the chance to make a much-needed life change. We spent 18 months in the beautiful Old Dominion where we saw some breathtaking sites and made such lovely friends, but not without our share of struggle and sacrifice.

Being apart from our extended family was no easy feat, especially when it seems that everyone else is struggling financially, as well.  Trips back home were few and far between, and only a couple of relatives were able to find a way to visit.  Earlier this month, Hubby and I came to the realization that the next step in our journey would be to come back home.

We packed the 26' moving truck all by ourselves.  Being Thanksgiving week, we didn't want to ask any friends for help, so it took us 4 days and many aches and pains.

The drive was LONG----16 hours!  That was an hour longer than our original drive up, and 3 hours longer than the normal 800 mile drive home.  The good Lord was on our side, because we made it home safely after driving all night.

While I drove, I had a lot of time to think.  I thought about the last 18 months and what was to come in the future.  I knew I would miss my Virginia friends, the beautiful fall leaves and the possibility of winter snow. But at the same time, I began to get excited about seeing my old friends, being close to my family and summers at the beach.

It's been two weeks since our arrival, and we are still settling in.  We are staying with my in-laws for a few months to save some money and look for just the right place. I've gotten to see a few of my old friends, been able to participate in some family functions, and each day is getting easier.

I'm currently preparing for my winter trunk show, but I hope to be back in full swing after the new year.  Thanks for reading! xx

Mini Mustachio Coin Purse

You already know by now that I love the mustachio!  While contemplating  which items I would add to my shop for the holiday season, I knew I HAD to include the mustache. 

Here's a little preview of what I made...and it's no surprise this was the first item to sell when I restocked my shop!!

I decided  to make a line of coin purses, because they are a perfect gift for any age.  Kids can hold their lunch money, Chuck E Cheese tokens, etc. Moms can hold spare change, business cards, lipsticks, IDs and more.

Black with polka dots with white mustache.

White with polka dots with black mustache.

Black and white stripes with white polka dot mustache.

These were so fun to make! I can't wait to come up with some more designs!

Have you started Christmas shopping, yet??

 Click here to see where this and my other posts are linked

Halloween Deal {today only!}: B1G1 FREE Mini Wet Bags

Happy Halloween, friends!  I can't believe the month of October ends tonight!  I hope my fellow East Coasters are recovering quickly from any damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.

I have a special Halloween Deal of the Day! All mini (sandwich-size) vinyl-lined wet bags are BUY 1 Get 1 FREE! Today only!! That's just $7 for 2 bags plus shipping! Good on any in-stock fabric. Message me on Facebook or email me to order or for more information. Offer absolutely ends at MIDNIGHT and won't be repeated before the holidays!

Mini wet bags can be used as sandwich bags, travel make-up bags, snack bags, first aid bags...keep them in your purse, backpack or diaper bag! Perfect time to start stocking up on teacher's gifts and stocking stuffers. 

 

 

Orders will be billed via Paypal and shipped within 2-3 business days.  Valid only on in-stock fabrics.  Email me for more info.  aquaseventy6 {at} gmail dot com.

 

Mad Haute

Every November, when Target has their costumes at 75-90% off, I pick up a few for my kids. These have worked beautifully in the past for the Halloween Parties, Trunk or Treats, Storybook Parades at school, and countless other opportunities my kids have had to dress up prior to the actual day of Halloween.  This is not only super fun for my daughter, but preserves her "real" costume until Oct. 31.

Last year was no different.  I picked up three adorable costumes at $3 each and thought my daughter was set for this holiday.  Boy, was I wrong!!

We are in a whole new world up here in Virginia.  We weren't invited to any pre-Halloween costume parties and her school doesn't allow them to come to school in costume.  Lo and behold, her school DID decide to try Trunk or Treat last Friday night, and since she knew she wouldn't get to show off her costume to her friends, I allowed my daughter to wear her "real" costume to the event.

So let's talk about this "real" costume.  Mommy has been very busy, so I assumed my ever considerate daughter would pick one of the three costumes hanging in her closet for the last 11.5 months---and she would have---had I not shown her a picture of an adorable Queen of Hearts costume on Pinterest.  My kid is a mini-me in every way.  Her wheels started turning, and even though we went to the fabric store intending to make her the Queen of Hearts, we came out with purple, black, and green tulle, some pink and black tights and The Mad Hatter on the brain. 

What we created was Mad Haute....

I made her skirt using 9 yards of tulle, elastic and a simple tie-on method.  Click here for a tutorial. I love how it looks torn and industrial...dark and moody.  I added some tulle to a mini hat hair clip we found at Pier 1.

Next I made the floppy bow tie, tying in the colors of her tights.  I safety pinned that into a heather-gray long sleeve top to continue that industrial look.

I cut the fingers off of some simple winter gloves we've had forever, and I dug up an old vest I've had since my hipster days.  JK, I was never a hipster, but I did rock the mini vest back in 2006ish.

I tied her hair in two twisty knots, and attempted to recreate Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter make-up, to no avail.  We ended up just using lots of eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner and lipstick to finish off the dark, Tim Burton-esque look of this costume.

I have to say, I LOVE the way it came out!!  What do you think? 

 Click here to see where this and my other posts are linked